A blaze engulfed an apartment in McKeesport yesterday, leaving a homeowner in distress and at least five individuals without a residence. According to WPXI, emergency crews responded to the emergency call from the 400 block of 29th Street just after 8 p.m. The incident escalated as the fire, originating from the top floor of a multi-unit home, consumed the structure and inflicted smoke and water damage to the neighboring house.

The immediate response from fire personnel facilitated a swift evacuation, which fortunately resulted in no reported injuries, yet the material loss was palpable. "Just before the holidays, I lost everything. everything I built, everything I put in there was brand new, so I don’t know,” Vinetto Cobbs said, per WPXI. The fire chief declared the initial home a total loss, while assessments are ongoing for a second structure affected by the fire.

Mckeesport Fire Chief Jeff Tomovcsik described the progression of the blaze, noting that the fire started on the second floor, moved to the attic, and then spread to the adjacent building. "The crews were here quickly. They were able to secure a large supply and aggressively attack the fire. So that is the one upside we are seeing quickly. The downside is the fire appears to have somewhat of a head start on us, just because there was nobody home at the time," Tomovcsik stated in an interview detailed by WTAE.

The Fire Marshal's Office is investigating the cause of the inferno. Organizations like the Salvation Army and the Red Cross were on the scene, providing necessary support to those displaced by the calamity. Updates will follow as more details regarding this incident come to light, with local news outlets advising residents to stay connected for the latest developments.